Educators

"Rx for Understanding" - Resource Guide & Curriculum This new curriculum, developed by the NEA Health Information Network, is designed to help educate students in grades 5-8 on topics such as the differences between proper use, misuse and abuse of prescription medicine and tips for a healthy lifestyle. There’s also a send-home letter for parents with steps to help prevent and address medicine abuse.

NIDA for Teens: Parents and Teachers Information and lesson plans from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) help teachers engage students about the consequences of drug abuse and addiction. You’ll find “Mind Over Matter,” a teacher’s guide for grades 5-9 to learn about the biological effects of drug abuse, a prescription medicine abuse fact sheet and quiz - along with other drug-related classroom activities.

Not Worth The Risk, Even If It’s Legal: What Educators Need to Know This resource encourages health teachers, coaches, guidance counselors and mentors to have honest conversations with their students and empowers them to play an active role in helping curb teen medicine abuse.

Learn About Teen Prescription Medicine Abuse: Smart Moves, Smart Choices “Smart Moves, Smart Choices” is a national awareness program to inform parents, students and educators about teen prescription drug abuse and its serious risks. With educational videos, quizzes, myth-busters and a school assembly kit all to inspire teens to think twice before they abuse a prescription medication.

Home to Homeroom “Home to Homeroom” teams parents with school nurses to help prevent teen prescription and over-the-counter cough medicine abuse via a School Nurse Toolkit, which includes a PowerPoint Presentation, a poster and a letter and action kit for parents.

Posters for Teens On the Risks of Prescription Medicine Abuse Free posters from NIDA warn teenagers about the risks of prescription medicine abuse – and are easy to display in school hallways, classrooms, cafeterias and the nurses’ office. One poster asks teens, “What can you do without Rx drug abuse?” Another shows a prescription medicine bottle with warning signs such as “Side effects may include disappointment of family and friends.”

As a Mom and School Nurse, Peggy McKibbin is Helping To End Medicine Abuse Teen medicine abuse is a serious issue and one that we, as parents have the power to stop. Education is the key. I have been a nurse for nearly 24 years and a school nurse for nearly 15 years.

Prescription Drugs: They Can Help But Also Hurt: Not Worth the Risk (for Teens) This free brochure explains to teens the dangers of misusing and abusing prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. Reviews some of the myths of prescription drug abuse, lists warning signs of substance abuse and explains what to do if someone has a problem and needs help.

Fact Sheet: Preventing Teen Abuse of Prescription Drugs Get the facts about prescription medicine abuse, the reasons teens abuse medicine, where they are getting it – and the key action steps for parents to take to prevent this risky behavior.

Parent Talk Kit With ideas on how to use “teachable moments” to start an ongoing dialogue with teens, scripts on what to say and tips for answering tough questions, this kit can help parents have honest conversations with their kids – and protect them from the dangers of substance abuse.

Protect Your Kids: 3 Steps to Safeguard Your Home Steps for parents to properly keep track of their prescription and over-the-counter cough medicines, safeguard it from their teens and properly dispose of any unwanted medicines.

Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants: What College Administrators, Parents & Students Need to Know Prescription stimulants, such as Ritalin or Adderall, are sometimes used by students who do not have a prescription or used in ways that are inconsistent with the prescribing physician’s. The reason? They think it will help them do better on a test or study more effectively. Learn more.

Taking Action to Prevent & Address Prescription Drug Abuse > A Resource Kit for America’s College Campuses Inside this kit from National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), you'll find materials for building awareness and prompting action on campus including a student action sheet, a tip sheet for peer leaders, sample articles, myth busters and a letter to parents.

Mind Your Meds: Basic Medication Safety Tips This three-page tip sheet for college students from NCPIE’s Resource Kit lists ways students who take medications that are prescribed to them by their doctor can properly safeguard and dispose of prescription medicine – and avoid the pressure to share their medicine with others.

You're in Control: Using Prescription Medicine Responsibly: Not Worth the Risk (for College Students) This free brochure educates college-aged people about the risks with using prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs nonmedically. Explains how to keep medicines safely away from other students and offers tips for how to cope with the stress and pressure of college demands.

Parents Toll-Free Helpline If you know a family with a child abusing prescription or over-the-counter medicine, please encourage the parents to call our Toll-Free helpline to speak to a parent specialist: 1-855-DRUGFREE (1-855-378-4373).

Time To Get Help This online resource helps parents gain a better understanding of teen and young adult alcohol and drug abuse, dependence and addiction; offers support from experts and other parents; and helps them find the right help for their child and family.